The ambitious 13.77-km East-West Metro corridor connecting Howrah to
Lake Sector V has been hit by delays due to land acquisition and
rehabilitation disputes along the corridor and the project is currently
delayed by about two years from the scheduled date of completion of
2016, the Parliament was told today.
However, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation
Limited, the Implementing agency, has completed 95% of Elevated portion
and 15% of underground portion of the Civil Works of East-West Metro
corridor in Kolkata. The electrical works, rolling stock and signalling
& telecom works are in progress, the Minister of State for Urban
Development Saugata Roy said in a written reply to a question in Lok
Sabha.
Mentioning that delays of getting land acquired for the project was the main cause of delay, the minister listed thee instances in which the delay has cost the project extended for two more years. He said,
land related disputes at Duttabad and Swabhumi in elevated portion, delay in land acquisition and rehabilitation of project affected persons in Phoolbagan, Central and Mahakaran stations and
delay by railway authorities in handing over land in Sealdah and Howrah Stations are some of the reasons delaying the project.
In late 2011, Railway authorities have handed over land at Sealdah station and for Sealdah cross-over. A part of the required land in Howrah station is also being handed progressively and for land acquisition and rehabilitation issues at Mahakaran station, the possession has been taken over and construction work started. In Central station, maximum portion of land possession has been taken over and remaining land will be taken over soon, the minister said, adding, acquisition process at Phoolbagan Station is in advance stage and land acquisition and construction of rehabilitation building is also in progress.
The scheduled date for completion of Phase –I project (Salt Lake Sector-V to Sealdah) is April, 2015 and Phase – II (Entire Corridor) is October, 2016.
The Union Cabinet gave its approval for implementation of the east-west metro corridor project, Kolkata, covering a length of 13.77 km (8 km underground and 5.77 km elevated), on standard gauge, from Howrah station to Salt Lake Sector V at a completion cost of Rs 4,676 crore to be executed through a joint venture company to be formed by the Central and state governments.
Mentioning that delays of getting land acquired for the project was the main cause of delay, the minister listed thee instances in which the delay has cost the project extended for two more years. He said,
land related disputes at Duttabad and Swabhumi in elevated portion, delay in land acquisition and rehabilitation of project affected persons in Phoolbagan, Central and Mahakaran stations and
delay by railway authorities in handing over land in Sealdah and Howrah Stations are some of the reasons delaying the project.
In late 2011, Railway authorities have handed over land at Sealdah station and for Sealdah cross-over. A part of the required land in Howrah station is also being handed progressively and for land acquisition and rehabilitation issues at Mahakaran station, the possession has been taken over and construction work started. In Central station, maximum portion of land possession has been taken over and remaining land will be taken over soon, the minister said, adding, acquisition process at Phoolbagan Station is in advance stage and land acquisition and construction of rehabilitation building is also in progress.
The scheduled date for completion of Phase –I project (Salt Lake Sector-V to Sealdah) is April, 2015 and Phase – II (Entire Corridor) is October, 2016.
The Union Cabinet gave its approval for implementation of the east-west metro corridor project, Kolkata, covering a length of 13.77 km (8 km underground and 5.77 km elevated), on standard gauge, from Howrah station to Salt Lake Sector V at a completion cost of Rs 4,676 crore to be executed through a joint venture company to be formed by the Central and state governments.
The Cabinet also gave its approval for
constitution of a special purpose vehicle, to execute the project,
between the West Bengal government and Government of India on 50:50
basis.
The objective of implementing the east-west metro corridor project is to provide additional transport infrastructure to Kolkata. The project will completed in six-and-a-half years in two stages. The first stage of 5.77-km elevated section will be commissioned in five and a half years.
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